Base sack anchoring means



Aug. 2, 1960 H. w. HENRY BASE: sAcK ANCHORING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1959 Aug. 2, 1960 H. w. HENRY BASE sAcx ANcHoRING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2l Filed March 9, 1959 United States Patent() BASE SACK ANCHORING MEANS Herbert W. Henry, 881 Stebbins Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,127 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-25) This invention relates to anchoring means for securing a base sack in position such as a Ibaseball sack and the like.

Baseball sacks are secured in position at the several bases by means of straps which tie the sacks down to elements secured in the ground. These elements retain the sack against movement in the plane of the base whereby players sliding into base frequently contact the sack with such force that they receive sprained ankles or broken ankle bones. The present invention seeks to overcome this hazard by providing anchoring means which permits of the movement of the sack in any direction throughout the plane of the base and for turning movement arcuately about the center thereof and which normally retains the sack centrally of the base whereby the sack will have limited movement with the impact of the player thereagainst.

A further object of the invention is to provide sack anchoring means which permits of the convenient tying down and release thereof and the adjustment of the elements which tension the sack against movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide anchoring means which may be readily cleaned of sand, dirt or other foreign matter accumulating therein.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a sack anchoring means constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the anchoring means shown in Fig. 1 with the top plate partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated in its application to a base sack for the game of baseball, such as employed at first, second and third bases. However, the anchoring means may be employed for anchoring a base sack for any game in which parts of the body of the player may engage during the usual course of playing the game. The anchoring means provides ia support for the sack centrally of the base, and normally retains the sack at the proper location while permitting of movement thereof in a horizontal plane when the same is engaged by aplayer.

The sack is tied down by means of straps 11 which are affixed to the side walls of the sack and extend about loops 12 projecting upwardly from a top plate 13 and located adjacent the periphery thereof and under the sack. The free ends of the straps 11 are attached to the upper portions thereof by buckles 14 which permit of disconnecting the sack from the plate. The loops 12 are preferably formed from the body of the plate by cutting slits 15 and 16 therein and bending the portions y '2,947,540 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 Nce of the plate between the slits upwardly to thereby provide the loops 12.

The upper surface of the plate 13 is located substantially flush With the surface of the playing lield F and may be of rectangular formation corresponding to that of the sack. The plate is slidably disposed upon the upper edge of an annular metal frame 17 to which circumferentially spaced angle brackets 18 are secured to the sides thereof and through which extend bolts 19 with the lower ends of the bolts anchored in a. concrete supporting base 20 embedded in the ground centrally below the sack 10.

'Ihe plate 13 is tensioned for limited sliding movement on the annular frame 17 by means of a plurality of radially arranged contractile springs 21 connecting the plate with the frame 17. For this purpose the plate 13 is formed with a central opening 22 and is provided with a plurality of radially arranged downwardly bent lugs 23 located about the periphery of the opening. The springs are attached at ltheir outer ends to metal eyes 24 extending inwardly from the inner faceI of the frame 17 and at their inner ends the said springs are attached to studs 25 which project through apertures 26 in the lugs 23 and with nutsv 27 threadedly engaged on the outer ends of the studs for varying the tension of the springs. The opening 22 is closed by a cover plate 28 which is removably secured on the plate 13 by screws 29. This permits of the removal of the cover plate so as to tighten or loosen the nuts 27 for varying the tension on the springs 21. In the event that sand or other foreign matter accumulates in the frame due to the plate 13 being lifted from time to time when adjusting the sack 10, the same may be removed through the opening 22.

While the preferred form of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which fall within the purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a 'base sack anchoring means, a plate arranged substantially flush with the playing area and having a plurality of spaced loops adapted for receiving means for connecting a base sack thereto adjacent the periphery thereof, a frame located centrally below said plate and on which the same is slidably supported, a supporting base embedded in the ground below vsaid frame, means securing said frame in xed relation on said supporting base, and a plurality of spaced radially arranged springs aflxed at their outer ends to the inner face of said frame and connected at their inner ends with said plate for securing the plate on said frame and normally retain` ing the plate and the base sack centrally thereof and permitting of limited movement of the sack and plate throughout the plane of the top of the frame.

2. In a base sack anchoring means, a plate arranged substantially flush with the playing area and having a plurality of spaced loops adapted for receiving means slidably supported, arranged springs affixed at their outer ends to the inner face of said frame and connected at their inner ends with said plate for securing the plate on said frame and normally retaining the plate and the base sack centrally thereof and permitting of limited movement of the sack and plate throughout the plane of the top of the frame.

3. In a base sack anchoring means, a plate arranged substantially flush with the playing area and having a central opening provided with a plurality of spaced lugs extending inwardly about the periphery thereof and said plate having means for connecting a base sack thereto,

a frameanchored in the ground and located centrally below said plate and on whichthe same is slidably sup-` ported, a plurality of radially arranged springs aihxed at their outer ends in spaced relation about the inner peripheryoli saidfframe and` connected at .their inner` ends with studs attached to said lugs for V securing' theplate onfsaid frame and;normally retaining the'plate and the basesack centrally'thereoiv andwpermit'ting oflimited movementofthe sacik and, plate throughout'. the planehof the top of theframe.

4. In a hase sack-anchoring means, a plate arranged.' substantially lush with the playing area and having a central opening provided with a plurality of lspacedlugs.

extending inwardly about the periphery thereof and' said plate having; means-for connecting a base sack thereto, t

a frame anchored in the ground and located` centrally below saidjplate and onI which the same is .slidably supported, a plurality of. radially arranged.v springs aixed at their'outer, ends in spaced'relation about'the innerof the sackandY plate by the tension of said springs throughout the plane of the top of the frame.

5. In a basesaek anchoring means, a plate arranged substantially flush with the playing area and having means for connecting :a basel` sack thereto, a peripheral frame anchored in the ground and having a peripheral upper rim on which saidplate is slidably supported, and

a plurality of radially arranged springs aixed at their inner ends to the under side of said plate in substantially equally spaced relation and at their outer ends to the inner face of said frame slidably securing the said plate on said frame and normally retaining the plate and the base sack centrally thereof' and permitting of limited movement of the plate throughout the plane of the rim of said frame.

6. in a base sack anchoring means, a plate arranged substantially flush with the playing area and having means for connecting a base sack` thereto,` 4a peripheral frame anchored in the ground and having aperipheral upper rim on which said plate is slidably supported, and a plurality of radially arranged coil springs secured at their inner ends to the under side of said plate in substantially equally spaced relation and extending angularly ofut- 'wardlyA and downwardly toward their outerendsf and with their outer ends secured to the innerk faceof said frame slidably securing the said plate on said frame and:l

normally retaining the plate and the base sack centr-ally thereof and permitting of limited movement of the plate- Falconer Oct. 23',A 1917'v Ferris Oct; 13, 1942` 

